Electronic Travel Authority
In 2019 the Government will introduce an Electronic Travel Authority for some groups of travellers. It is a new security and facilitation measure that will help to speed things up at the border.
The Electronic Travel Authority aims to:
- Enhance security and reduce immigration risks
- Address smuggling and biosecurity risks
- Improve the traveller experience
- Support New Zealand’s international relationships and agreements
- Adapt to the changing needs and requirements of the government, stakeholders and travellers over time.
The number of visitors to New Zealand has grown strongly over the past few years, and growth is expected to continue. Most short term visitors arriving by air or sea do not need to apply for a visa, which supports our tourism industry by making it easy to travel.
However, when people don’t have to apply for visas, we only learn about them once they are enroute to New Zealand. We are unable to screen these travellers in advance for border and immigration risks and have a reduced ability to make entering New Zealand smoother and faster as technology evolves.
The Electronic Travel Authority aims to deal with these issues and is part of wider government efforts to make border crossing as seamless as possible.
